Protesting labour union blocks NH-1 for 3 hours

The National Highway-1 was blocked for about three hours after the activists of Dihati Mazdoor Sabha sat on a dharna near Rayya, in support of their demands.

Raising slogans against the state government, the activists demanded that the government should fulfill all the promises made during election and also the ones promised when they held agitations earlier.

Accusing the state government of misleading people, Dihati Mazdoor Sabha general secretary Gurnam Singh Daud said, "The Badal government had promised that all the farm workers would be allotted plots and employment would be ensured through MNREGA around the year."

The protesters said the government should give subsidy on daily-use goods as it has become tough for the common man to deal with inflation.

Various organizations, including Dihati Mazdoor Sabha, had blocked the highway a few years back and the blockade was lifted five days later on the assurance given by the state government.

After the activists were not willing to lift the dharna on Friday, the district administration officials assured that the demands will be heard soon following which the dharna came to an end.

Jamhoori Kissan Sabha state president Satnam Ajnala and vice-president Rattan Singh Randhawa also addressed the activists. Various farmer unions also had lent their support to the protesters.